The Need

In Sacramento the desire to support the arts runs deep:

• There are 943 art-related businesses in the Greater Sacramento area employing more than 4,703 people (Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, 2010).

• 93% of teachers believe integrating more arts into education will help them meet some of their classroom challenges (Kennedy Center survey 2009).

• Sacramento is home to 30 museums, several symphonic music groups, a professional ballet company, an opera company, and over 125 theatre companies.

• The Sacramento region supports more than a dozen cultural festivals, twelve film festivals, a popular Second Saturday Art Walk, over fifty commercial art galleries, a strong poetry community and an award-winning public art program.

The challenges of maintaining a vibrant arts community are growing:

• 71% of schools surveyed in the region do not provide arts education program (Kennedy Center survey 2009)

• Sacramento lags behind other cities our size in terms of personal philanthropy for the arts.

• Sacramento lags behind other cities in California and the nation in terms of public funding for the arts.

• Many Sacramento artists and arts organizations are suffering financially in the current economic climate.

• Sacramento artists are seeking help in finding affordable live/work space and access to affordable health care and professional assistance.

 

We know that effectively supporting the arts requires a strategic approach that bridges city and county boundaries.

For Arts' Sake is addressing this need by implementing an action plan through work by citizen committees and partner organizations.

We know that the arts matter.